Page 95 - Classic Rock - The Complete Story of Def Leppard 2019

PHIL COLLEN

the Pyromania album – all the grunt, hard- WE IN DEF LEPPARD HAVE A
work stuff – had already been done. Mutt
Lange actually said to me, “Have fun. Be a WORK ETHIC THAT A LOT

lead guitarist. Come up with something
– whatever you want to do!” Which is not OF OTHER BANDS JUST
what I was expecting him
to say. I’d heard about Mutt Lange and DON’T HAVE.

how he did the AC/DC albums. But no…
He said, “Take this and have fun. Do this,
do that, do whatever.” We worked out plans in mind… I don’t even know to this
some of the solos but others, like day. I’d met Mutt before, but it all worked
Stagefright, was just a one-off. That was a out a treat and we went on from there…

first take. After that it became easy and I
understood where I would fit into the You say you’d met Mutt and you were
band – it was melodic shredding. On aware of his reputation. So wasn’t it a
Photograph, Foolin’, Rock Of Ages and all the daunting waling into Battery Studios

other stuff it just fell into place. Then that first time?
when Mutt found out I could sing he’d No, it was great. He’s amazing. I find
have me singing on everything, it pure inspiration to work with
doing the dual part with Joe. him because it’s not work, it’s fun
It was a different sound and a and he’s always coming up with

different thing for me but all of a great ideas. He’ll say something
sudden I’d fallen in with a like, “Play this…”, and it’s
bunch of guys I knew and had impossible to play, but I’ll sit
been friends with, and I knew down and work it out and

that they were trying to do suddenly I’m doing stuff
something a bit special. I wouldn’t normally do. He
There were so many bands got me singing stuff at first
out there that were content I’d find a bit hard, but then
to try to sound like he’ll say, “No, you can do

someone else. With Def it… A bit higher… a bit
Leppard it was never like louder…” and before long
that. We always said if we you’re doing stuff you
could blend a bit of early didn’t know you could do.
AC/DC ferociousness He’s the only person I’ve

with some of the melodic ever worked with who’s done
approach, subtleties and it. Back in the day when we
genius of Queen, we’d were doing Hysteria he said,
be onto something. That “Some of these songs are okay, but
really is what we did. If they have to be more than okay.

you listen back to some Everyone else out there is going to be
of the AC/DC, Queen making Pyromania Part Two so we’ve got
and Def Leppard stuff to be doing something really special. Or
you can hear that’s the he’d go, “This chorus… it might be strong

blueprint. Even on our enough for a bridge but you have to come
new album we’re still up with a strong chorus as well.” He
sticking to it. would really get you working, on every
level, way beyond what you thought your
Obviously you were the capacity was. And before you know it

band’s first choice to you’re doing something else way beyond
replace Pete Willis, but what had gone before. You listen to
do you know if they had a Hysteria now, and it’s just a blend and
back-up? hybrid of all styles. It was <really>

I don’t know. Originally I just went different. Rock people are funny – they
down there to help out. I didn’t think I like to put things into categories and
was going to be in the band. I thought I sub-categories. You can’t like punk if
was just going to be helping them out on you like hard rock, you can’t like
the record, so whether they had other metal if you like… it’s such bullshit.

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